Financial Assistance

Financial management is a significant concern in the armed forces, primarily because of the unusual lifestyle that is so much a part of military living. Dugway Proving Ground is an isolated installation where the service member and their family must manage and plan financially for a variety of situations such as fluctuations in pay, deployments and isolation, and now, involuntary and voluntary separation. Whatever the situation, it is imperative that individuals here at Dugway manage and plan the use of their finances appropriately; however, in case of financial emergencies, Dugway has an Army Emergency Relief section that services a four-state area.

Cost of living

Cost of living in Utah has been increasing. Please check local rates for current information.

Required vehicle coverage in Utah

Liability coverage: Utah law requires drivers to insure each of their motor vehicles for a minimum of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $15,000 per accident for property damage. These limits are often abbreviated 25/50/15.

These minimum liability figures are the lower limits; however, the insurance industry almost universally recommends that you get a policy for coverage of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and even $100,000 for property damage in case your car gets into a tangle with a vintage Porsche.

Personal injury protection: Utah is considered a “no fault” state when it comes to auto insurance; that is, you are required to pay a personal injury protection premium for at least $3,000 in coverage, and your insurance company must pay your medical bills for injuries suffered in an accident no matter who caused it. This is advantageous because it eliminates costly investigations to find fault and costly legal proceedings to wrestle medical payments from the other party's insurer.

Uninsured motorist coverage: This insurance protects you in the event that you get in an accident with an uninsured driver. If you think about it, someone who is willing to drive without insurance might also be driving without a license or a safety-inspected car, and is, therefore, a more dangerous driver. They're out there. Without their insurance payout, you might be left high and dry. But this insurance will cover your losses.

The Financial Readiness Program manager and the Consumer Affairs consultant offer financial counseling to all military personnel, civilians and their spouses. For more information, call 435-831-2387 or DSN 312-789-2387.

If you need financial assistance, make an appointment with the financial specialist in Building 5124 by calling DSN 312-789-2387 or 435-831-2387. The financial specialist, also the Army Emergency Relief specialist, provides interest-free loans or grants for emergency transportation, funerals, medical or dental bills (the patient's share), food, rent, utilities and essential vehicle repairs, as well as help when disaster strikes. The financial specialist can also provide financial counseling.

The American Red Cross office provides interest-free loans through the AER for emergency travel in conjunction with emergency leave orders. Additional assistance may be provided to avoid privation and basic maintenance, including food, shelter and clothing. Emergency communication is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 801-323-7000. Workers obtain health and welfare reports, and provide short-term counseling and referrals, as needed.